What is the process of a juvenile court proceeding?

A juvenile court proceeding is the legal process involving a child, generally under the age of 18, accused of committing a crime. In North Carolina, juvenile court proceedings vary depending on the severity of the crime and the age of the juvenile offender. The process typically begins with the juvenile being detained, which is determined by a juvenile court judge. In most cases, the accused minor is allowed to remain free on defendant will appear in court when required.">bail, or the judge may place the minor in a juvenile detention center to await further proceedings. The next step in the process is a hearing known as an adjudicatory hearing. During this hearing, the accused minor must appear before a judge to determine if there is enough evidence to prove the minor committed a criminal offense. If the judge determines there is enough evidence, the minor is then adjudicated delinquent, meaning the court recognizes the minor did commit the crime. Following the adjudicatory hearing, the judge will schedule a dispositional hearing. During this hearing, the judge considers mitigating factors such as the minor’s age, mental health, and prior criminal history to determine an appropriate outcome. This outcome could range from probation to commitment to a juvenile facility. Finally, the judge may require the juvenile to attend counseling, therapy, or other rehabilitative services. The juvenile may also be required to make restitution to the victim or to take other actions to address the criminal act that was committed. Overall, juvenile court proceedings are handled differently than adult criminal cases. The goal of juvenile court proceedings is to rehabilitate the juvenile offender rather than punish them.

Related FAQs

What is the difference between juvenile probation and adult probation?
How is a juvenile offender's future affected by a criminal record?
What are the consequences of a juvenile's criminal record?
What is the difference between a transfer hearing and an adjudicatory hearing?
How is the juvenile justice system different from the adult justice system?
What rights do juvenile offenders have in court?
What is the role of school personnel in juvenile justice matters?
What is the role of parents and guardians in juvenile court cases?
How are juvenile proceedings different from adult proceedings?
What should parents do if they are notified of their juvenile's arrest?

What is the process of a juvenile court proceeding?

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts